As of now I havent spent more then $30( Not including the $150 for the New Shag set, but I feel thats a whole different thing)or so, but im venturing into the $100+ mark at the moment. Im wondering if this is getting out of hand.

I think about $36 - $37 for one of the Munktikis that was very close to retirement. That excludes the Shag 2nd set, but that's a better investment than most mutual funds now.
_________________Dude, you're gettin' a Tiki!

I actually broke down & paid $50 for one of those Kahiki hoffman mugs. I had BIG stars in my eyes.
$50 is my absolute limit for a super rare item.
Here are a few examples that I would "go there" on:
I put in a whopping $34 & got outbid on this super cool mug over the weekend:
Looks like the one in the old Islander Stockton menu that you NEVER see! I really thopught this one would BLOW UP!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=719299346&rd=1(looks like they took the pic down, rats! i think I saved a copy, I will put it up on the tiki mug database)
here ya go:
http://www.tikiroom.net/gallery/unmarked?&page=4

I think the max I ever spent was on ebay and it was a Trader Vic Amber Stem mug for $30.
I also gave $25 to an old lady who had a Stephen Crane Luau mug (with the tounge sticking out) when she was asking $15. I would have given here $30 if I would have had it.

Now, I would spend $50 on a Hoffman Kahiki, but I would have to have some excess cash to justify it to my wife.

In reality, I think $30 for a rarity to a collection is a fair price. I'm reluctant to spend much more. I'd rather hear / have stories of the $1.00 flea market or thrift store finds.

Excellent topic and a plesant (normal) change to what we have been recently posting and reading.
Thank you.

Well, call me cheap but I never try to spend more than $20.00 - even for the 'rare' ones because you know what? Even the rare ones come along again, and again, and again. Believe it or not, I've been able to pick up a 'rare' mug for cheap. I either get lucky because it was listed obscurely (as a 'teeki cup'), or nobody really knew what it was. Case in point: I was actually able to pick up a brown Islander skull mug for only $9.95 with no other bidders. Why? Don't know, Don't care - It's mine!

However, to answer the question, the most I ever spent on a mug was $38.00 and to this day I still think I overdid it.

Still trying to understand how a Tiki Bob's mug can sell for $50-$80 every time its listed and there's at least 3 listed per week and Hawaii Kai Green Ku mug sometimes closes with no bidders and is listed maybe 1 a month at most.

I paid around $30 for my volcano bowl. That's the highest I've gone. I guess the next highest was $20 for a suffering bastard decanter. Never paid more than $15 for any mug (the $15 was for a skull mug).
_________________

>>This one thrift store will collect a box full of tiki items for me, and depending on the size/amount I’ll give them $15 - $20 for the set.<<

Whoa, that's pretty scary to hear.
I mean good for you, bad for others.
I thrift 3-5 days a week & grab most of my stuff that way, but if I heard of something like that happening in any stores on my beat, I'd be pissed.
I think it's against the unwritten thrift code or something.
But then again, I guess I've got a few hunting tricks that arent always entirely "ethical".